Blasting device.



E. HUTTON.

BLASTING DEVICE. APPLICATION fILIeD Nov. 24, Isls.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 blasting devices, and it proposes,

. charges are choking up the bore and thereby jUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST BUTTON, QF WAYLAND, KENTUCKY.

IBLASIING DEVICE.

Be it known that I, ERNEST HUT-ron, a citizen of the United States, residin at Wa land,`in the county of Floyd and tate of lentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Blasting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

heu present invention has reference to briefly, an improved implement which is designed rimarily for use in coal mining to successi ly break down the coal in comparatively Small quantities directly 'over and upon a conveyer, whence it 1s carried away to a point where mine cars. In this way, the cost o mining is reduced to a very considerable' extent over the `methods ordinarily followed, since the expensive and slow pick-work is avoided, while, on the other hand, less' powder is required per ton mined and the coal is not pulverized, as is the case when heavy employed, the entire operation being carried out with lessened danger to the miners.

According to the invention, the entire face of the vein is undercut'close to the floor of the chamber, to receive the e'nd of the conveyer, and above such openin a passage 6h bore is drilled for the explosive char the latter being carried. by an element in t e nature of a gun, which is inserted in the' bore,

andthrough which is led the wire or other Xible ignition device. The gun is equippe with a stop or buffer, which is subjected to a preliminary'- expansion, prior to exploding the charge, Vfor the purpose `of maintaining and when the stop or buffer the recoil so` that the im lement` in place' therem the e losion takes tplace, is fi'ther expande b it now the bore to v-prevent any blow-out. thereof coil is Specification of Letters Patent. `Appummmi mea november u. 191e. seri-a1 mi.

To all wkma it may concern.'

it can be readily loaded u on thel p buffer.

becomes' wedge suiliciently tight in r in a downward V:features of lthe `invention as al1-ea Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

waan.

the first bore, is then successively charged andfired in the same way, theoperatl'on bein repeated until the top-of the vein is reaced. At that time, been formed in the face .of the vein, about three or four feet in depth, and of the' same width, the next blastings being made across the face,one above another, directly over the conveyer.

An embodiment of theinvention is illustxated in the accompanying drawing, whereo Figure 1` is a vertical sectional view a recess will have taken through the chamber andthe face of i' the vein, and showing the gun inserted in one of the bores or passages formed in the vein,

and the various parts or ins'trulnentalitiesl Y employed in connection with the "gun, l'

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinalsection ""'l of the said gun.v

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmental side, elevations of thetwo devices for expanding the buffer. 'i

Fig. 5 is an end view of the expander shown in Fig. 4. i

Figs. y6 and 7 are side views of the expansion and Fig.` 8 is a sectional view of a. part of the ignition device.

ferring more particularl ing, the face 1 of iv cut entirel the Hoor-c the chamber 2, cess on opening 3` for the lto .said draw the vein o coal iis-under recelving' `end f cf the conveyer 4, and above this Zonta-I passages or bores 5 are drilled, one

above another and at intervals of lbout two or three feet apart, or breast is reached the bores4 extending inward to substantially the same .extent as the recess 3, ieaanainrisailytwoerthee i own as in the feet. The conveyer 1s here form of a exible endless belt, driven from any desired source of power.

The gun 6, which embodies the (principal y stated,

comprises a slid'able cylmdrical element 7 packing rings disposed within thevv across itat appoint closer to toy provitleawre until the top o the facev that forms the barrel of the gun, and an elongated tubular body 8 whereon said barrel is telesco ically mounted, the rear portion of the lilitter being provided for that purpose with a longitudinal socket 9 to receive the end of the guh bod see Fig. 2. At its front end, the barrel is provlded with a second'longitudinal socket 10, which alines with the rear socket 9 but has a smaller diameter than that soc et, the two sockets 9 and 10 being connected by an axial neck or passa e 11 of still smaller diameter, and the 'ront socket 10 being utilized to receive the veX losive charge 12, which may be, and pre erably is, in car-` tridge form, as shown. -The sliding movement of the barrel upon the tubular body 8 is limited'by means of a pin-andslot device, comprising, in. this instance, two or more slotsl formedrin said body, and a corresponding number of pins "14 xed to the barrel and `projecting radially inward through said slots, The end of the aforesaid body 8 terminates sufficiently far short of the end wall of the socket 9 to provide space for the reception of an expansible coil spring 15, which tends to normally hold thebarrel in its outermost position.

The explosive charge 12 may be ignited in any desired manner, and by means of any suitable flexible. spark-conducting device. Preferably, however, there is employed for this purpose an electric circuit 16 closable by a switch 17, (Fig. 1), in which circuit a spark plug 18 is included, said spark plug fittingr in the restricted connecting passage 11 'and' having the opposite ends of its body portion fitted in metal -caps or bushings 19 and 20 whichhold it in place. ,The front or outer c'ap 19', shown in detail in Fig. 8. is formed with a narrowpointed or V- shapedbridge, 21 that serves the double function of a terminal or contact, an'd of a pcrforator for the shclllor wrapper 22 of the cartridge. One of the wires oi thc circuit 16 is lcd from th source ot' current or bnttoryQi, succes-sir; f through v,the open-,

ended gun body 8, 'the passage f), and the body`oi: t'hc= .spark plug, Vand into the space between-thc arms of said bridge. while the othcri'cireni#wirdis'grounded al; 2l kon the Aouter ("nd` portion of the aforesaidy body 8,.

the latterbeing"provided at such point with alleom-lrln'indle 25. 'The battery 23, which is of such icliaractvr nslo produce n spark at thegazp bctwi-cn the bridge and the terv minal :of tlul 'circuit `wire. is located a considcraldo distanri` fr'ftii'n the 4face or breast oi'- vtlfu coal. and `the handhl 25 of the gun is oonavclwlfliy n"' .luiiir6Y witha collar 27, ndjuslubly clani|wll=-to afsuitifible jack 2S,

u hirh survie; tnpl'cvcnt the gun 4from boingV thrown upnnefthe licor of tlii'cliifmbcr by the 'force oi thc explosion.`V In the present instance, the )aok istshown' as comprlsmg a vertical post or pillar '29, which carriesy A screws 32 with an adjustable base-block 33,

that rests upon `the floor of said chamber; (see Fig. 1).

Intermediate its ends, the gun is provided with the stop or buffer 34, which as originallyfstated` is subjected to an initial espansion to hold the gun in place in the bore and is subsequently further expanded by the recoil of thc barrel, to wedge the buffer more tightly in the bore, and thus cause the force of the explosion to be, exerted solely in a downwarddirection and to prevent it from blowingr out through said bore. This device preferably comprises a series of alternating expansion and packing or spacing rings 35 and 36, inclosed by a. canvas or other iiexible cover 37 and constructed, respectively; of coiled wire and felt, leather or the like, thev spring ringsl tending to normally maintain it in a contracted condition. The expanding means associated with the device consist of a pair of cti-acting members 38 and 39, (Figs. 3, and 4),`ha.ving annular rims or flanges 40 and 41, to which the ends of the canvas cover 37 are secured, said members being provided uponfthe confrontingir inner ends of the barrel 7 and of an outer tubular member or sleeve 42 which fits loosely over the bodyl B. These members 38 and 39 are formed with fingers 43 and 44, which taper both in width and in thickness from their inner to their outer ends, the lingers of one member being arranged in staggered relation to those of the other member, so as to enable them to enter thc spaces between each other. In other words, the arrangement peri'iits aninteriitting or intcrdigital engage] `nt of the two sots oi ingersfand this, in turn, enables the said members to move closer together than would otherwise be possible; and when such movement occurs, the rings 35 and 36 are gradually expanded radially, in all directions sinndtaneously,` owing,r to the wedging action exerted upony them by said members. It desired', a composite or laminated packing ring;r or washer 45 may be arranged against the rear face of the nnge'lO.

The initial or preliminary expansion 0f the hufi'er'is `effected bv means'of a hand wheel 4G, which is engaged fwith the vextermdly-tlnjcadcd forward portion'? of the outer tubular body 8, said hand wheel having its hub abutting against a cap or bushing 4S fitted upon the outer endy of the tube or sleeve 4'?. Rotation of said wheel in the proper direction, \vill,thus fore the sleeve or tube 42 alongA the b'ly 8 toward the barrel 7, as will be understoodl the expandi is given its preliminary place, it acts in ing member 39 moving with said tube toward its companion member 38, so as to prgss the rings 35 and 36 outward.

n operation, after the drilling of the Various openings 3 and 5 has been completed, and the end of the conveyor has been adjusted to bring it directly below the first or lowermost opening 5, the cartridge l2 con, taining the exploslve charge is fitted in the outer socket 10 of the barrel 7, so that the pointed terminal'l of the spark plug 1:vill puncture the shell or Wrapper 22 of the cartridgetand project into the charge, as represented in Fig. 2, it being understood that the Wiring of the gun has previously been effected. The gun is then inserted into the aforementioned lowermost openin Y until the end of the cartridge contacts wiiili Vthe end Wall of said opening, after which the buffer 34 expansion, by operating the hand wheel 46 in the manner above described, and the switch 17 then closed to ire the charge. Vixen the explosion takes a downward direction, as above explained, and breaksdown the coal in quantities approximatin pounds in actual barrel produced y the explosion action against the buffer member 38 with the result that the buffer is further expanded to an extent sufficient to preclude an blowout through the bore or openin 5. he coalis then removed by means of t the gun reloaded and inserted in the next higher bore 5, after which the same steps are folh'swed as before. The operations are repeated until' the tpmost bore has been shot, the subsequent shots being made across the face of the vein. T he bores or drill holes for these last shots likewiseverlie the conveyer end, but they extend substantially at right-angles to the lbores 5, as will be understood. Fig. 1. If necessary, the conveyor end may be adjusted for the nal shots, and it may also be adjusted for the various iii-stenen tioned shots, if advisable, the extension of the undercutting entirely across the face of the vein permitting such adjustment.

I claim as my invention 1. A mining gun for insertionin a drill hole or bore, comprising, in combination, a tubular body; a 'barre slidably mounted upon the forward end thereof, and provided with a charge-containlng socket means for exploding the charge; and a buffer mounted on said bodv and adapted to be expanded by the recoil oi said barrel consequent upon explosion, so as to wedge said builer tightly against the Walls of said bore and thus prevent blow-out therethrough.

2. A mining gun for insertion in adrill ,'in combination, a

hole or bore, cmprisln Slidably y mounted tubular body; a,r barre against the walls of said bore and one thousand` practico, t e recoil of the" `explosion of the charge, so as to 'wed e conveyor, and

See the dotted-line shoiving in( Isocket, and also having a bu upon the forward end thereof, and provided With a char e-containing socket; means for exploding t e charge; a Vlimiter mounted on said bod 'and 'adaptedto be expanded-by the recoi of said barrel conse uent upon ex.-A plosion, so as to wedge said uiier tightly against the walls of said bore and thus preyent blow-out therethrough; and means for imparting a preliminary expansion to said buffer, prior to explosion, to maintain the gun in place in said bore.

A mining gun for insertion in ardrill hole or bore, comprising, in combination, a tubular body; a barrel slidably mounted upon the forward end thereof, and provided with a char e-containing socket; means for 30 exploding t e charge; a buer mounted on said body and adapted to be expanded by the recoll of said barrel conse uent upon explosion, so as to wedge said buqtfer tightly thus prevent blow-out therethrough' and means, independent of said barrel, or im arting a. preliminary expansion to said bu er prior to explosion, to maintain the gun in place in said bore.

4. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge containing socket, and also having a-bu'er adapted to be expanded automatically consequent npoi sai buffer tightly against the walls of said bore and thus prevent blow-out'therethrough.`

5. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge-containing socket, and also having a buffer adapted to be expanded automatically consequent upon explosion of the charge, so as to Wed e said buffer tightly against the walls of said bore and thus prevent blow-out therethrough; and means for manually imparting a preliminary expansion to said buier, prior to explosion, to maintain the gun inplace in said bore.

6. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge-containing socket, and also having a buffer; and a pair of members for expandm' g the buffer, so as to cause it to become ti t y wedged in said bore, one of said mem ers beingr automat-l cally movable toward the other member @0:11:115 sequent upon the explosion, to effect auch ex ansion.

A mining;v gun for insertion. in a drillV hole or bore, having aA charge-containi'n lier; a pair o members for expandin 'the buffer, so as to cause it to become tigvtly wedged in said bore, one of said members being automatically movable toward the other member aonsequent upon the explosion, to eii'ect such expansion;andmeans for moving said otherv member toward the -rst-namd member prior to the explosion, to effect a prelimiloo nary expansion of the buffer, to maintain the gun in place in said bore.4

8. mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge-receiving socket1 and also having a buffer comprising a plurality' of expansible rings and a flexible cover therefor; and a pair of members engageable with said rings to expand the same and thereby canse said buffer to become tightly wedged in said bore, one. of said members being automatically movable toward the other memberr consequent upon the explosion, to etfeet such expansion.

9. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore; having a charge-receiving socket; and also having a bui'er comprising a plurality of expansible rings and a tiexible cover therefor; and a pair otl members en fageable with said rings to expand the saine and thereby cause said bntl'er to become tightly wedged in said bore. 10. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge-receiving socket, and also having a bnlfer; and a pair of 2o-acting reversely-tapered members eapablo of relative movement toward each other to expand said buffer and thereby ause itto become tightly wedged in said ore.

11. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge-reeei ving socket, and also having a buii'er; anden pair of relatively-movable, co-aeting members having reversely-tapered fingers for expanding said buffer, so as to canse it to become tightly wedged in said bore, said ingers arranged to interit during such movement.

l2. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, having a charge-receiving socket, and also having a butter comprising a plurality of elvpansible rings and a flexible l cover therefor and a pair of reverselytapered members capable of relative movement toward each other, to engage and expand said rings and thereby cause saidtbutfer to become tightly wedged in said bore.

1B. A mining gun or insertion in a drill hole or bore.I having a charge-receiving socket, and also having a buffer comprising a plurality'ot' expensib e rin s and a-flexinle cover therefor: and a pair o co-acting members movable toward each other, and hav ing reversely-tapered fingers for engaging and expanding said rings, so as to cause said buffer to become tightly wedged in said bore.

14. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore.g comprising, in combination, a tubular body; a barrel slidably mounted upon the forward end thereof, and provided with a charge-eontainir'ig socket; a buffer encircling said body and adapted to be eirpanded. to canse it to become tightly wedged in said bore; and a pair of (zo-acting members associated with said bner and located one on said barrel and 'the other on said S53 encircling said body andadapted to be ex panded; to cause it to become tightly wedged in said bore; and a pair ot' versely-arranged, wedge-sl1aped members lo cated one on said barrel and the other on said body; the lirst-named member being moved toward the second-narned member to edc'ct such expansion; by the recoii of the borrel consequent upon explosion ot' the charge.

lf3. Annming gun vfor insertion in a driii y hole or bore, comprising, in combination, a tubular body; a barrel slidahly mounted upon the forward end thereof and provided with a chargecontaii1ing socket; a .sleeve mounted npon said body in rear ot' yaid barrel; a butter encircling said body between the confronting ends of said barrel and said tube, and adapted to be expanded into edging engagement with the wells ot' said bore; and cti-acting devices located on said confronting ends and movable toward noch other, to effect such expansion.

17. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, comprising, in combinz'ition` a tubular body; a upon the forward end thereof1 and prfn illed with a chargeontaining socket; a butler encircling said body andadapted to be expanded to cause it to become tightly 'wedged in said bore; a pair of co-aeting i associated with said bntier and located one on .said barrel and the other on said body for relative movement toward each other to etlect such expansion; the movement of the first-named member being produced automatically by the recoil of said barrel consequent upon explosion of the charge; and means independent of said barrel for mannally effecting the movement of the secondnamed member; to impart a preliminaryl ex tension to said buffer.

18. A mining gun for in ion in a drill hole or bore, comprising, in combination, a tubular body; a barrel slidably mounted npon the forward end thereof and provided with a charge-containin; r socket; a sleeve mounted upon said body in rea r of said barI4 rel; a louder encircling said body between the confronting ends of said barrel :ind Ltaid tube5 and adapted to be expanded into wedg-v ing engagement with the walls of seid bore; and coat-ting devices located on said con fronting ends and movable toward each devices l barrel slidably mounted 7' other, toseifect such expansion, the movement of the barrel-carried device being automatically by the recoil of said barrel consequent upon explosion of the charge.

19. A; mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, comprising, in combination, a tubular body; a barrel slidnbly mounted upon the forward end thereof and provided with a charge-containing socket; u sleeve mounted upon said body in rear of said barrel; a buil'er encirelin said body between the confrontin en s of said barrel and said tube, and a apted to be expanded into wedging engagement with the walls of said bore; co-acting devices located on said confronting ends and having relative movement toward each other to edect such expansion, the. movement of the barrel-car ried device being caused by the recoil of the barrel consequent u on explosion of 'the charge; 4and means or moving said sleeve along said body toward said barrel, to produce the movement of the sleeve-carried device.

20. A mining gun for insertion in a drill hole or bore, comprising, incombnation, a tubular body havin its rear ortion formed wit an external t read; a arrel slidably mo tedupon the forward ortion of said body and rovided with a c ar e-receivin sockpt; a eeve slidably mounte upon sai bod in rear o1- said barrel; buffer encirclin said body between the confrontin ends of Said barrel and said sleeve and afapted to be expanded into wedging engagement -with the walls of said bore; a pair of coacting devices locatedn said confronting ends and having relative movement toward each other to effect such expansion, the

Vmovement of the barrel-carried device being :caused by the recoil of the barrel censequent upon 'explosion of the charge; and a 'manually-operable member engaged with `the threade portion of said body and abutting a ainst the rear end of said sleeve to force t e latter along said body toward said barrel, thereby to produce the movement o the sleeve-carried device.

21. A mining gun, provided with a barrel having a charge-receiving socket at its outer end; a spark plug fitted in the bore of said barrel in rear of said socketfand having a narrow, ointed bridge-piece at its front end, whicli projects directly into the charge and constitutes an electrical-contact orwterminal; and means for producing an electric spark at said bridge-piece, to explode the c arge. f

V 22. A having a charge-receiving socket at its outer end and a recess or socket of diameter than the charge' socket located dtmetly in rear of the latter and opienlng through the rear wall thereof; a spar plug fitted 1n the .produced mining gun, provided wtha barrelrear socket and provided with a for\\'ordl`\'- projecting, V-shaped bridge which extends into the charge socket, so as to penetrate the charge; :1nd means for producing au electric spark at said bridge, to explode the charge.

23. Mining apparatus of the character specified, comprising` incombinntion, a conveyor having its receiving end adapted for disposition in an opening or recess cnt in the bottoni of the'face of the vein to be mined; n mining gun for insertion in a horizontal drill hole or bore located directly over said conveyor end, said gun having a socket to contain a cartridge of explosive material; means on said gun for maintaining it in place in the bore and for preventing blowf'out therethrough, und means for exploding seid cartridge, so as to cause the force of the explosion to break down the material being mined directly upon the said conveyor end, to be removed byV said conveyer.

24'. Mining apparatus of the character Specified, comprising, in combination, a receiving element for disposition in an opening or recess cut in the bottom of the face of the vein to be m'ned; a mining gun for insertion in a horizontal drill hole or bore located directly over said receiving element, said gun having a socket to contain a cartridge-of explosive material; means for eX- ploding said cartridge, so as to cause the,

force of the explosion to break down the material being mined directlyupon said receiving elemcnt; and means on said gun for choking up said bore, to prevent blowout therethrough during the explosion.

Q5. Mining apparatus of the character specified, comprising in combination, a re ceiving element for disposition in an open-- ing or recess cut in the bottom of the face of the veinte be mined; a mining n for insertion in a horizontal drill hole or ore lo* cated directly over said-receiving element, said gun having a sliding barrel provided with a socket to contain a cartridge of exploA sive material means for exploding said cartridge, so as to cause the force of the exp1osion to break down the material being nned directly upon said receiving e ement; A av d Vcally by the recoil of said arrel consequentl located directly, over said receiving element.

said gun having a socketI to contain a cart- A ridge of explosive material; means for exploding said cartridge, so as to cause the force nf the explosion to break down the material being mined directly upon said receiving element; an expansible device on said gun for wedging engagement with the wells nf said bore, to choke up the latter, to maintain the gun in place therein and to prevent blow-out therethrough; and

separate means for preliminarly and finally 10 expanding said device.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing w itnessee.

ERNEST HUTTON. VVitneeses:

J. W'. WINE,

T. MIDDLETON. 

